Hello! Happy Friday and hope everyone is doing well as we look ahead to the weekend.

In news that’s not surprising, Joni Mitchell is returning her music to Spotify.

It’s a shame she was caught up in Neil Young’s asinine boycott two years ago, but now that he smartly dropped his protest, Mitchell has the green light to put her tunes back on the streaming platform.

I don’t think Mitchell has ever commented on the whole ordeal, and certainly there’s not going to be any statement about her return to Spotify.

She wanted to support Young, then followed his ridiculous boycott into the streaming wasteland for 2 years.

A big waste of time. But it’s nice to see her wonderful catalog is back on the biggest music streaming platform in the universe for all to enjoy.

In other news….

Spotify publishes new Loud & Clear

Spotify paid $9 billion in royalties in 2023.

The latest data shows that the industry is less top-heavy than ever, with more artists having a true seat at the table and the ability to make money from their art. Last year Spotify raised the bar, recording the highest annual payment to the music industry from any single retailer.

And for the first year ever, the catalog of DIY artists and artists signed to independent record labels accounted for about half of what the entire industry generated on Spotify in 2023.

★ SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify finally launches Miniplayer for desktop users

The long-requested feature gives you floating access to playback controls.

⭐️ Spotify: Record 2023 Earnings for Indies, Songwriters, Non-English

In an encouraging sign for non-major label artists, DIY artists and those signed to independent labels generated nearly $4.5 billion on Spotify — the first year the category accounted for approximately half of the total. It represents a four-times increase from 2017 and is the highest amount indies have ever generated from a single retailer in one year, the streamer states.

⭐️ Spotify Executive On The Importance Of Storytelling In The Music Business

Spotify Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins sits with Forbes Assistant Managing Editor Steve Bertoni to talk about the music streaming giant, her career and the value of brand storytelling.

⭐️ Spotify Now Has Its Own Catalogue of Music Videos

According to Spotify, the beta version is rolling out with a "limited catalogue of music videos", including tracks from big stars like Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and Ice Spice, or "local favourites like Aluna and Asake." The catalogue is now limited, but more artists will be added as the functionality rolls out further.

⭐️ Swedish composer becomes Spotify’s most-famous musician you’ve never heard of

A “secret” composer who has released music under hundreds of different names has been identified as Sweden’s most-listened-to artist on Spotify – pulling in more plays than Britney Spears or Abba.

Johan Röhr, a Stockholm-based musician, has been unmasked as the person behind more than 650 different artists on the streaming service who have been played 15bn times, making him Sweden’s current most-played artist.

🗣 Podcasts 🗣

• Spotify Brings Behavioral Targeting To New Podcast Promo Tool

▶️ Playlists ▶️

• Justin Timberlake’s New Album Is Off To An Embarrassing Start On Spotify

• Spotify brings real-time listening parties 'Jam' to its desktop app

🎧 Streams 🎧

• Joni Mitchell follows Neil Young in returning her music to Spotify

• You can now finally use Sonos Voice Control with Spotify tunes

• Fans Ready to “Riot” After Spotify Removes Classic Hank Williams Jr. Album From Platform

🎼 Spotify 4 Artists 🎼

• Five Artists Reflect on Five Years of Spotify in India, Reaching New Fans, and the ‘True Power’ of Music

• Analysing Spotify's payouts for 'emerging and professional' artists

• How are Musicians & Songwriters paid? Two short Spotify videos explain

• Refresh your Spotify profile in 5 minutes or less

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

• Spotify's new Desktop Miniplayeris a godsend for multitaskers

• How To Set Up Spotify With Sonos Voice Control

🔥 News 🔥

• Spotify paid $9 billion in royalties in 2023. Here's what fueled the growth

• Spotify attracts eyes as well as ears with video ads

• WGA East Members at Spotify and The Ringer Ratify New Contracts

• Spotify and 100 Percenters to Offer Grants for Songwriters, Producers

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

Ramones Motörhead

We All Go Back To Where We Belong R.E.M.

Over My Head Randy Crawford

Never Say You Can't Survive Curtis Mayfield

Neverending Math Equation Sun Kil Moon

Brokenupadingdong The Beta Band

Here Comes The Breeze Gomez

Easy to Love You - 2013 Remaster Grateful Dead

Celia Charles Mingus

Thinking of the great Karl Wallinger, who sadly passed last week at 66.

Wallinger formed World Party in 1986 shortly after his departure from the Waterboys and recorded the group’s debut album, “Private Revolution,” largely by himself at home. Released in 1987, the album was a surprise hit, spawning the hit single “Ship of Fools,” and the group toured and released four more albums through 2000 and scored hits with “Put The Message In the Box” and “Is It Like Today?

Born in Wales in 1957, Wallinger began his career as a keyboardist with several bands and briefly was musical director for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in London. He joined the Waterboys in 1983 and served as a multi-instrumentalist on the band’s first three albums, including 1985’s “This Is the Sea,” which featured the slow-burning hit single “Whole of the Moon.”

Ship of Fools World Party, Anthony Thistlethwaite

Love Street World Party

Sooner or Later World Party

📧 Get in touch 📧

If you have a question, idea, request, or simply a desire to chat about Spotify, please email me at jeff.spotifynewsletter@gmail.com.

😀 Have a Nice Weekend! 😀